BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – Gary Palmer joined Wake Up Alabama this morning to discuss his landslide victory over Paul DeMarco in the Congressional District 6 runoff election.

Palmer has not held elective office, but he founded the Alabama Policy Institute, a conservative think tank, more than two decades ago. In 1999, Palmer was active in the successful fight to defeat a state lottery for education proposed by then-Gov. Don Siegelman, a Democrat.

The 6th District includes the heavily populated suburbs surrounding Birmingham and stretches into rural areas north and south of the metropolitan area. Palmer will now prepare to face Democrat Avery Vice in the General Election in for the District.